5 ms·

What law did he break?

Cenk 6y ago
He didn’t technically break a law, but definitely broke very clear government guidance – “Stay Home“ is about as unambiguous as it gets. Millions of people took the rules very seriously, missing loved one’s funerals for example, and he drove 260 miles to his parent’s house and a local castle.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- M2Ys4U 6y ago
  The law said one must not leave one's house without a "reasonable excuse". Going for an hour+ drive just to see if your eyes work is not a reasonable excuse.
- Bantros 6y ago
  So no law was broken, just guidance... maybe. Depending on interpretation
  - Cenk 6y ago
    How else could one interpret “Stay Home“?
    - smcl 6y ago
      "Drive across the country and go for a picnic in Barnard Castle" apparently
    - Bantros 6y ago
      Not sure about you, but I certainly don't take a brightly coloured PR slogan plastered on a Tory government podium as gospel
      - DanBC 6y ago
        The guidance from Government needs to read in conjunction with the law because the guidance describes "reasonable". The guidance was clear: do not leave home; do not travel to second homes; don't mix households; if you need help use your local networks.
        Bantros 6y ago
        You've been allowed to leave your home from Day 1 of the lockdown and there is no law to say otherwise Edit: Though under reasonable terms, including exercise and food shopping. If you have only obeying the slogans, which was my point, well that's unfortunate
        DanBC 6y ago
        > You've been allowed to leave your home from Day 1 of the lockdown and there is no law to say otherwise Again, only with reasonable excuse. He didn't have a reasonable excuse. The law says https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/ma... > 6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse. It then lists some reasonable excuses. Travelling to a second home is not listed in the reasonable excuses. The government guidance is important because it provides context to "reasonable" -- it expands the list of reasonable excuses. The guidance at the time was "You must stay at home", "you must not travel", "you must not travel to a second home". The Crown Prosecution Service guidance is important because it curtails police action. The CPS guidance was similarly clear: travelling to a second home is unlikely to be reasonable, unless it's someone fleeing domestic abuse. Police guidance tells us how they would have handled Cummings if they'd stopped him as he travelled from London to Durham. The police have said that they'd have turned him back. Very many people have been fined for doing exactly what Cummings did, and those fines are not going to be withdrawn.
dynamite-ready 6y ago
He cited doubts about eyesight as an excuse for a 30 minute leisure drive. Apparently, one retired police chief suggests that's illegal. Which does sound about right.
DangerousPie 6y ago
There are laws against leaving his house without a valid reason and driving with impaired eye sight, aren't there? https://twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/1264955577471504386 https://twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/12649555774715043...
Intermernet 6y ago
Not sure about the UK, but in Australia, if I suspected my eyesight was bad, and went for a drive, and was involved in an accident, I would probably be charged with negligent driving. Even if I weren't involved in an accident, the negligent driving would still be breaking the law, but there would be no occasion to prove it.
DanBC 6y ago
Section 6 of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/ma... > 6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse. He claims his reasonable excuse was to get childcare from his family in Durham. That might cover his trip from London to Durham, but it doesn't cover his trip back again. I'd argue it doesn't cover his trip from London to Durham because he had childcare available in London which he chose not to use.

Cenk 6y ago

He didn’t technically break a law, but definitely broke very clear government guidance – “Stay Home“ is about as unambiguous as it gets. Millions of people took the rules very seriously, missing loved one’s funerals for example, and he drove 260 miles to his parent’s house and a local castle.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
M2Ys4U 6y ago
The law said one must not leave one's house without a "reasonable excuse". Going for an hour+ drive just to see if your eyes work is not a reasonable excuse.
Bantros 6y ago
So no law was broken, just guidance... maybe. Depending on interpretation
- Cenk 6y ago
  How else could one interpret “Stay Home“?
  - smcl 6y ago
    "Drive across the country and go for a picnic in Barnard Castle" apparently
  - Bantros 6y ago
    Not sure about you, but I certainly don't take a brightly coloured PR slogan plastered on a Tory government podium as gospel
    - DanBC 6y ago
      The guidance from Government needs to read in conjunction with the law because the guidance describes "reasonable". The guidance was clear: do not leave home; do not travel to second homes; don't mix households; if you need help use your local networks.
      - Bantros 6y ago
        You've been allowed to leave your home from Day 1 of the lockdown and there is no law to say otherwise Edit: Though under reasonable terms, including exercise and food shopping. If you have only obeying the slogans, which was my point, well that's unfortunate
        DanBC 6y ago
        > You've been allowed to leave your home from Day 1 of the lockdown and there is no law to say otherwise Again, only with reasonable excuse. He didn't have a reasonable excuse. The law says https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/ma... > 6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse. It then lists some reasonable excuses. Travelling to a second home is not listed in the reasonable excuses. The government guidance is important because it provides context to "reasonable" -- it expands the list of reasonable excuses. The guidance at the time was "You must stay at home", "you must not travel", "you must not travel to a second home". The Crown Prosecution Service guidance is important because it curtails police action. The CPS guidance was similarly clear: travelling to a second home is unlikely to be reasonable, unless it's someone fleeing domestic abuse. Police guidance tells us how they would have handled Cummings if they'd stopped him as he travelled from London to Durham. The police have said that they'd have turned him back. Very many people have been fined for doing exactly what Cummings did, and those fines are not going to be withdrawn.

dynamite-ready 6y ago

He cited doubts about eyesight as an excuse for a 30 minute leisure drive. Apparently, one retired police chief suggests that's illegal. Which does sound about right.

DangerousPie 6y ago

There are laws against leaving his house without a valid reason and driving with impaired eye sight, aren't there? https://twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/1264955577471504386 https://twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/12649555774715043...

Intermernet 6y ago

Not sure about the UK, but in Australia, if I suspected my eyesight was bad, and went for a drive, and was involved in an accident, I would probably be charged with negligent driving. Even if I weren't involved in an accident, the negligent driving would still be breaking the law, but there would be no occasion to prove it.

DanBC 6y ago

Section 6 of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/ma... > 6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse. He claims his reasonable excuse was to get childcare from his family in Durham. That might cover his trip from London to Durham, but it doesn't cover his trip back again. I'd argue it doesn't cover his trip from London to Durham because he had childcare available in London which he chose not to use.